1 00:00:38,001 --> 00:00:41,440 Speaker 1: Hey friends, it's Kelly from Life Audio. We just launched 2 00:00:41,501 --> 00:00:45,181 Speaker 1: something new. It's called The Good Word, our free weekly 3 00:00:45,241 --> 00:00:48,120 Speaker 1: newsletter built for people who want to go a little 4 00:00:48,161 --> 00:00:54,011 Speaker 1: deeper in their faith. Think devotionals, guided prayers, curated podcast recommendations, 5 00:00:54,191 --> 00:00:57,311 Speaker 1: and a little community all in one place. No ads, 6 00:00:57,651 --> 00:01:00,091 Speaker 1: just good content. This one means a lot to us. 7 00:01:00,491 --> 00:01:03,271 Speaker 1: We built The Good Word based on the audience survey 8 00:01:03,491 --> 00:01:05,671 Speaker 1: so many of you filled out a few months back. 9 00:01:05,991 --> 00:01:08,571 Speaker 1: You told us what you wanted, and we listened. So 10 00:01:08,611 --> 00:01:11,560 Speaker 1: thank you truly for helping us shape this. Head to 11 00:01:11,580 --> 00:01:14,181 Speaker 1: the link in the show notes and join our community today. 12 00:01:14,481 --> 00:01:20,420 Speaker 1: We'd love to have you. Life Audio. 13 00:01:21,541 --> 00:01:25,451 Speaker 2: Welcome back, loyal listeners and friends, to another episode of 14 00:01:25,871 --> 00:01:31,831 Speaker 2: Story Behind. I'm your host, Sean McAvoy, and today I've 15 00:01:31,890 --> 00:01:34,090 Speaker 2: found a couple stories with you that will just remind 16 00:01:34,131 --> 00:01:39,461 Speaker 2: you how special children are in the kingdom of God 17 00:01:39,781 --> 00:01:44,421 Speaker 2: and to Christ in particular. Whether it's one or two, 18 00:01:44,721 --> 00:01:52,341 Speaker 2: like I have, or let's say 37, or everyone who's 19 00:01:52,421 --> 00:01:56,721 Speaker 2: ever been a child. And, you know, it's interesting because 20 00:01:56,741 --> 00:01:59,901 Speaker 2: part of the reason we do story behind, behind what? 21 00:02:00,621 --> 00:02:03,151 Speaker 2: Behind a lot of the ugly news. And we knew 22 00:02:03,161 --> 00:02:05,541 Speaker 2: that There is a lot of stuff going on in 23 00:02:05,601 --> 00:02:09,001 Speaker 2: our world that, well, it can get some of us 24 00:02:09,041 --> 00:02:11,441 Speaker 2: down from time to time. And I've seen a lot 25 00:02:11,461 --> 00:02:15,451 Speaker 2: of comments online in this year and in recent times. 26 00:02:16,251 --> 00:02:22,211 Speaker 2: Why would you bring a child into a world where 27 00:02:22,451 --> 00:02:25,800 Speaker 2: things are happening like this? And, you know, it begs 28 00:02:25,841 --> 00:02:29,061 Speaker 2: the question, like what? Since when has life never been hard? 29 00:02:29,081 --> 00:02:35,371 Speaker 2: And In all the pain, there's still always been joy 30 00:02:35,411 --> 00:02:38,251 Speaker 2: to be found. And that's one of the reasons we 31 00:02:38,271 --> 00:02:41,071 Speaker 2: do what we do here at Story Behind, is remember 32 00:02:41,091 --> 00:02:45,971 Speaker 2: to tell those stories that might be hidden behind some 33 00:02:46,331 --> 00:02:52,331 Speaker 2: of the not encouraging news. So let's just think on 34 00:02:52,371 --> 00:02:54,470 Speaker 2: that for a second, and I'll be right back. I 35 00:02:54,751 --> 00:02:56,391 Speaker 2: mentioned I teased the number 37 earlier. 36 00:02:56,451 --> 00:02:56,520 Speaker 1: Yes. 37 00:02:59,550 --> 00:03:02,271 Speaker 2: This family has 37 kids, so think on that, and 38 00:03:02,311 --> 00:03:12,351 Speaker 2: we'll be right back with that story. All right, let's 39 00:03:12,411 --> 00:03:15,560 Speaker 2: dig right in. We've got two stories by Heather Riggleman 40 00:03:16,321 --> 00:03:20,281 Speaker 2: this week. Our first one is about a couple's family 41 00:03:20,381 --> 00:03:25,981 Speaker 2: that grew to 37 kids. This story is full of love, faith, 42 00:03:26,941 --> 00:03:33,491 Speaker 2: and purpose. Some families count blessings by birthdays. Paul Briggs 43 00:03:33,691 --> 00:03:37,271 Speaker 2: and Jean Briggs of Fallen Waters, Virginia, count them by 44 00:03:37,311 --> 00:03:40,961 Speaker 2: the children who have walked through their front door. I 45 00:03:40,981 --> 00:03:43,301 Speaker 2: can imagine what their home must be like, having five 46 00:03:43,381 --> 00:03:47,061 Speaker 2: siblings all married, and when we get together, there are 47 00:03:47,081 --> 00:03:51,121 Speaker 2: more than 23 cousins running around. It's loud, full of chaos, 48 00:03:52,181 --> 00:03:53,940 Speaker 2: but it is filled with a bond that can never 49 00:03:54,011 --> 00:04:01,311 Speaker 2: be broken. When this West Virginia couple married in 1976, 50 00:04:01,631 --> 00:04:04,931 Speaker 2: after meeting at a summer conference for Methodist youth leaders, 51 00:04:05,731 --> 00:04:09,351 Speaker 2: they dreamed of raising a family. They just never imagined 52 00:04:10,311 --> 00:04:16,721 Speaker 2: that dream would grow into 37 children, 32 adopted, 5 biological. Today, 53 00:04:16,791 --> 00:04:21,501 Speaker 2: their sons and daughters range in age from 10 to 47. 54 00:04:22,151 --> 00:04:25,251 Speaker 2: And even after decades of parenting, Paul and Jean still 55 00:04:25,291 --> 00:04:29,510 Speaker 2: haven't completely closed the door on welcoming another child. There 56 00:04:29,551 --> 00:04:33,851 Speaker 2: was never any talk of a mega-family, Paul said. There 57 00:04:33,880 --> 00:04:37,041 Speaker 2: was never this, well, let's try to get to this number, 58 00:04:37,501 --> 00:04:40,320 Speaker 2: or that number. It was really just a series of 59 00:04:40,380 --> 00:04:45,340 Speaker 2: events that continued to bring more children in. That sentence 60 00:04:45,421 --> 00:04:48,481 Speaker 2: feels like a glimpse into the heart of God. Love 61 00:04:48,520 --> 00:04:53,171 Speaker 2: doesn't always arrive with a carefully mapped out plan. Sometimes 62 00:04:53,241 --> 00:04:58,940 Speaker 2: it comes disguised as interruptions, unexpected phone calls, and children 63 00:04:58,981 --> 00:05:04,140 Speaker 2: who simply need someone willing to say yes. Their adoption 64 00:05:04,181 --> 00:05:08,731 Speaker 2: journey began years ago, after raising their biological children and 65 00:05:08,811 --> 00:05:14,671 Speaker 2: adopting their son Abraham Briggs from Mexico in 1985. Abraham, 66 00:05:15,071 --> 00:05:18,161 Speaker 2: who had been abandoned and is legally blind, still lives 67 00:05:18,201 --> 00:05:22,561 Speaker 2: at home. From there, one adoption became another, always guided 68 00:05:22,621 --> 00:05:27,001 Speaker 2: by prayer rather than a number. The ones that we 69 00:05:27,061 --> 00:05:31,780 Speaker 2: prayed about were the ones for us, Gene said. Today, 70 00:05:31,781 --> 00:05:35,901 Speaker 2: 14 children still call the Briggs 5,000 square foot home. 71 00:05:37,661 --> 00:05:41,911 Speaker 2: Life inside those walls isn't quiet. It couldn't be. Chores 72 00:05:42,091 --> 00:05:46,071 Speaker 2: are shared. Grocery shopping follows a carefully organized routine that 73 00:05:46,190 --> 00:05:50,181 Speaker 2: everyone pitches in. Some children set the table with napkins, 74 00:05:50,221 --> 00:05:55,010 Speaker 2: while others help prepare meals or clean the kitchen afterward. Jean, 75 00:05:55,071 --> 00:05:59,211 Speaker 2: whose husband lovingly says her love language is food, keeps 76 00:05:59,331 --> 00:06:03,831 Speaker 2: everyone fed with family favorites like spaghetti, grilled cheese, soup, and, 77 00:06:03,891 --> 00:06:07,591 Speaker 2: of course, breakfast for dinner. When you have that many 78 00:06:07,630 --> 00:06:10,570 Speaker 2: people under one roof, if they don't have anything to do, 79 00:06:10,611 --> 00:06:13,770 Speaker 2: they're going to find something to do, Paul said with 80 00:06:13,811 --> 00:06:18,081 Speaker 2: a smile. For Joseph Briggs, who was adopted from a 81 00:06:18,481 --> 00:06:23,841 Speaker 2: Ukrainian orphanage at 15, alongside two siblings, life changed the 82 00:06:23,880 --> 00:06:27,381 Speaker 2: moment he entered the Briggs family. Coming here to a 83 00:06:27,440 --> 00:06:32,421 Speaker 2: loving family, to clean clothes, a nice bed, food on 84 00:06:32,440 --> 00:06:37,721 Speaker 2: the table, the house, and just everything was amazing, Joseph said. 85 00:06:39,481 --> 00:06:42,320 Speaker 2: His favorite part of living at home? He laughs that 86 00:06:42,361 --> 00:06:45,571 Speaker 2: his mother's holiday meals are why I'm never going to 87 00:06:45,611 --> 00:06:52,460 Speaker 2: move out. Their generosity didn't stop with one generation. Their 88 00:06:52,501 --> 00:06:56,901 Speaker 2: oldest daughter, Mary Kay Johnson, grew up watching new siblings 89 00:06:56,961 --> 00:07:01,181 Speaker 2: join the family and the experience shaped her future. Today, 90 00:07:01,321 --> 00:07:03,821 Speaker 2: she and her husband are raising 14 children of their own, 91 00:07:04,801 --> 00:07:08,580 Speaker 2: including four adopted from Ghana, just nine houses away from 92 00:07:08,621 --> 00:07:12,861 Speaker 2: her parents. Looking back, Mary Kay remembers that every new 93 00:07:12,921 --> 00:07:16,851 Speaker 2: child was welcomed with joy It was a lot to adjust, 94 00:07:16,991 --> 00:07:20,271 Speaker 2: but it was always very positive, she said. So much 95 00:07:20,351 --> 00:07:22,531 Speaker 2: so that I wanted to do it when I got older. 96 00:07:24,471 --> 00:07:27,291 Speaker 2: Even after watching her parents navigate the challenges of raising 97 00:07:27,351 --> 00:07:31,531 Speaker 2: children with different backgrounds, medical needs, and life stories, her 98 00:07:31,591 --> 00:07:36,191 Speaker 2: admiration has only grown. Throughout it all, I have only 99 00:07:36,231 --> 00:07:38,831 Speaker 2: the utmost regard for my parents, Mary Kay said. They 100 00:07:38,871 --> 00:07:42,351 Speaker 2: have handled it very well. Because of how they've lived, 101 00:07:42,721 --> 00:07:45,031 Speaker 2: and what they've seen, and how they've handled it, Every 102 00:07:45,071 --> 00:07:51,141 Speaker 2: situation is truly remarkable. In a culture that often asks 103 00:07:51,241 --> 00:07:55,021 Speaker 2: how much is enough, the Briggs family has spent 50 104 00:07:55,021 --> 00:07:58,741 Speaker 2: years asking a different question. Who still needs a home? 105 00:08:00,881 --> 00:08:03,401 Speaker 2: Their story is a quiet reminder that family isn't built 106 00:08:03,421 --> 00:08:07,801 Speaker 2: by matching DNA. And raising kids isn't built into the 107 00:08:07,841 --> 00:08:12,641 Speaker 2: mindset of merely sharing 18 summers. It's built one prayer, 108 00:08:13,681 --> 00:08:17,861 Speaker 2: one open door, one shared meal, and one courageous yes 109 00:08:18,001 --> 00:08:24,211 Speaker 2: at a time. As it says in James 1.27, religion 110 00:08:24,231 --> 00:08:26,951 Speaker 2: that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this, 111 00:08:28,271 --> 00:08:32,971 Speaker 2: to look after orphans in their distress. What a fantastic 112 00:08:33,011 --> 00:08:36,861 Speaker 2: picture adoption is of the family of God. And here 113 00:08:36,901 --> 00:08:43,841 Speaker 2: we have two families, one continuing in her parents' example, 114 00:08:44,721 --> 00:08:47,841 Speaker 2: living so close to each other, bringing in children from 115 00:08:48,001 --> 00:08:51,321 Speaker 2: all over the world in a beautiful picture of what 116 00:08:51,361 --> 00:08:56,401 Speaker 2: heaven will be like, a wide table, many colors, people 117 00:08:56,421 --> 00:08:59,081 Speaker 2: with needs, all of whom who have come together as 118 00:08:59,201 --> 00:09:06,121 Speaker 2: one family in Christ, accepted, made whole, and living together 119 00:09:06,161 --> 00:09:06,561 Speaker 2: in harmony. 120 00:09:07,721 --> 00:09:08,101 Speaker 1: Amen. 121 00:09:08,961 --> 00:09:18,780 Speaker 2: We'll be back in just a second. All right, we 122 00:09:18,841 --> 00:09:23,441 Speaker 2: are ready with our second episode this week on Story Behind, 123 00:09:24,711 --> 00:09:28,411 Speaker 2: where our stories are brought to you from GodTube.com, where 124 00:09:28,451 --> 00:09:31,591 Speaker 2: you can watch without worry, and you can find the 125 00:09:31,771 --> 00:09:37,170 Speaker 2: video that accompanies each story at GodTube.com slash blog, and 126 00:09:37,191 --> 00:09:39,211 Speaker 2: you should be able to find the direct links to 127 00:09:39,291 --> 00:09:46,420 Speaker 2: each of our stories in your show notes below. It's 37... Kids, 128 00:09:46,521 --> 00:09:50,220 Speaker 2: finding a true home is truly amazing. But is it 129 00:09:50,341 --> 00:09:54,761 Speaker 2: not just as amazing when our Lord leaves the 99 130 00:09:54,761 --> 00:09:57,951 Speaker 2: to find the one? Or when, as in the case 131 00:09:58,231 --> 00:10:02,671 Speaker 2: of this story by Heather Riggleman, a city employee spots 132 00:10:02,931 --> 00:10:07,231 Speaker 2: one abandoned baby in the street and rushes to save 133 00:10:07,511 --> 00:10:12,970 Speaker 2: their life. A city employee spotted an abandoned baby in 134 00:10:12,991 --> 00:10:17,071 Speaker 2: the street and rushed to save their life. Some moments 135 00:10:17,671 --> 00:10:22,601 Speaker 2: split life into two parts, before and after. For Michelle Jones, 136 00:10:22,631 --> 00:10:24,801 Speaker 2: it happened in the middle of an ordinary workday on 137 00:10:24,881 --> 00:10:29,981 Speaker 2: Goodfellow Boulevard in St. Louis. She was driving her street 138 00:10:30,021 --> 00:10:33,961 Speaker 2: department truck when something ahead made her slow down. A 139 00:10:35,101 --> 00:10:39,451 Speaker 2: blue car stopped in the middle of the road. Then, 140 00:10:39,530 --> 00:10:42,331 Speaker 2: to her disbelief, she watched the driver place a child 141 00:10:42,371 --> 00:10:47,611 Speaker 2: safety seat in the middle of the busy street. As 142 00:10:47,671 --> 00:10:49,531 Speaker 2: I was approaching the car, that's when I saw the 143 00:10:49,571 --> 00:10:52,910 Speaker 2: driver take and set a car seat out into the 144 00:10:52,951 --> 00:10:57,361 Speaker 2: middle of Goodfellow, Michelle recalled. When he saw me approaching 145 00:10:57,401 --> 00:11:02,741 Speaker 2: his vehicle, he took off and fled the scene. There 146 00:11:02,811 --> 00:11:05,991 Speaker 2: are moments when heaven seems to whisper, don't drive past. 147 00:11:07,151 --> 00:11:10,791 Speaker 2: Michelle didn't. She pulled her truck as close as she 148 00:11:10,871 --> 00:11:14,851 Speaker 2: safely could, shifted into park, and ran toward the car seat. 149 00:11:15,771 --> 00:11:19,151 Speaker 2: As traffic continued flowing around her, she made a heartbreaking discovery. 150 00:11:20,091 --> 00:11:24,951 Speaker 2: Inside was a baby. I immediately pulled my truck as 151 00:11:25,011 --> 00:11:26,711 Speaker 2: close as I could to the car seat, put my 152 00:11:26,751 --> 00:11:31,891 Speaker 2: truck in park, got out, immediately called SLMPD, and stood 153 00:11:31,931 --> 00:11:33,951 Speaker 2: beside the baby to make sure that he was safe, 154 00:11:34,030 --> 00:11:37,751 Speaker 2: Michelle said. She wasn't thinking about the clock or the 155 00:11:37,801 --> 00:11:40,581 Speaker 2: work waiting for her. She was thinking like a mother. 156 00:11:41,761 --> 00:11:45,441 Speaker 2: A mother of three, a grandmother of twenty, a great-grandmother 157 00:11:45,541 --> 00:11:51,131 Speaker 2: of ten. Your motherly instincts kick in, Michelle said. I 158 00:11:51,151 --> 00:11:53,590 Speaker 2: wouldn't have done anything different but to stop and make 159 00:11:53,651 --> 00:11:58,451 Speaker 2: that baby safe and place back home. As she drew closer, 160 00:11:58,511 --> 00:12:01,251 Speaker 2: the reality of what she was seeing settled into her heart. 161 00:12:02,391 --> 00:12:05,091 Speaker 2: I was lost for words. I was devastated. It was 162 00:12:05,151 --> 00:12:09,800 Speaker 2: very scary, Michelle said. When I noticed this infant in 163 00:12:09,841 --> 00:12:13,241 Speaker 2: this car seat, the closer I got, I saw the 164 00:12:13,280 --> 00:12:19,381 Speaker 2: little feet with little white socks. Little white socks. Such 165 00:12:19,401 --> 00:12:22,691 Speaker 2: a small detail. Yet somehow it's the one that catches 166 00:12:22,731 --> 00:12:24,971 Speaker 2: in your throat. Tiny feet that should have been kicking 167 00:12:25,171 --> 00:12:28,830 Speaker 2: in the safety of a nursery were instead sitting alone 168 00:12:28,910 --> 00:12:33,691 Speaker 2: in the middle of a busy roadway. Police later arrested 169 00:12:33,851 --> 00:12:39,761 Speaker 2: Christopher Pearson, 36, who now faces charges including first-degree endangering 170 00:12:39,801 --> 00:12:44,321 Speaker 2: the welfare of a child and resisting arrest. Michelle can't 171 00:12:44,341 --> 00:12:48,581 Speaker 2: stop thinking about what could have happened. Fastest traffic that 172 00:12:48,681 --> 00:12:52,081 Speaker 2: people are driving today Anyone could have killed that baby, 173 00:12:52,141 --> 00:12:56,551 Speaker 2: she said. But they didn't. Because one woman noticed. One 174 00:12:56,591 --> 00:13:02,711 Speaker 2: woman stopped. One woman refused to keep driving. Afterward, Michelle 175 00:13:02,751 --> 00:13:05,430 Speaker 2: reflected on the timing of it all. I just thank 176 00:13:05,471 --> 00:13:10,011 Speaker 2: God I was there to save him, she said. Maybe 177 00:13:10,061 --> 00:13:14,941 Speaker 2: that's how God so often works. Not always by parting seas, 178 00:13:16,481 --> 00:13:18,621 Speaker 2: but by placing the right person in the right place 179 00:13:19,301 --> 00:13:23,231 Speaker 2: at exactly the right moment. And somewhere tonight, because Michelle 180 00:13:23,271 --> 00:13:27,251 Speaker 2: listened to the quiet nudge to stop, one little pair 181 00:13:27,271 --> 00:13:31,871 Speaker 2: of white socks is still kicking. As it says in 182 00:13:31,910 --> 00:13:38,011 Speaker 2: Proverbs 24.11, Rescue those being led away to death. Hold 183 00:13:38,081 --> 00:13:44,321 Speaker 2: back those staggering toward slaughter. All we have to do 184 00:13:44,361 --> 00:13:48,540 Speaker 2: this week is help one, just like Michelle did, or 185 00:13:49,621 --> 00:13:52,951 Speaker 2: Maybe that leads you all the way to helping 37 186 00:13:52,951 --> 00:13:55,891 Speaker 2: or more. It's going to be a wide table when 187 00:13:55,910 --> 00:13:59,211 Speaker 2: we get to heaven, friends. And I can't wait to 188 00:13:59,251 --> 00:14:03,021 Speaker 2: hear some of these stories. And I'm grateful that we 189 00:14:03,041 --> 00:14:05,861 Speaker 2: get to experience some of them now and that I 190 00:14:05,881 --> 00:14:09,141 Speaker 2: get to bring them to you each week. It's such 191 00:14:09,181 --> 00:14:11,711 Speaker 2: a privilege to have been with you on another episode 192 00:14:12,481 --> 00:14:13,351 Speaker 2: of The Story Behind. 193 00:14:13,791 --> 00:14:14,211 Speaker 1: Be blessed.